Heater fan failure
Discussion
Hi Everyone,
I know this has been done to death but I think my situation hasn't quite been covered in other threads.
I've owned an 05MY elise 111R with a/c since last March. Always left it outside - rain or shine (and snow now for that matter) with no previous problems. My heater fan has just packed in.
I assume this is water ingress and the resistor pack failing that I read so much about on forums before I bought my car.
However, there are two reasons that lead me to doubt this diagnosis:
(1) The heater fan has packed in entirely, i.e. it doesn't come on at all on any settings (- yes, it was a very cold journey to work this morning!!) .I thought that the resistor pack failure still allowed you to turn it on and off but meant there was no difference between some of the settings? OR does it affect different cars in different ways?
(2) It's been dry for the past two days or so, yet this morning is the first time the fan hasn't worked (I use my car everyday - it worked fine yesterday). I thought the reason it failed was due to the resistor pack being in a kind of sealed tub which fills up with water and eventually submerges the resistor pack shorting it out? OR can it just go at a seemingly random time?
I've heard the A/C makes it a bit of a bugger to do DIY so I'll probably be pulling my trousers down and taking to a dealer / specialist. To be honest, I knew it was coming at some point, given that it lives outside and I'd kind of bugeted for having to get it done when I bought it!! I just wanted to make sure it was this before I shell out.
Therefore, what do people think? and is there anything else that it could be?
On the subject of shelling out - any suggestions on where to get it done. I live near Nottingham - Peter Smith is probably my closest dealer.
I understand there is a way that this can be avoided by using a different pack that fits higher? I've heard they sometimes also drill some holes to let the water flow out? - does this also need to be done as well as fitting the new pack?
Also, as a side question, whilst the clam is off doing this, is it worth me having any other work done that will perhaps save me money in the long run? As I said, it lives outside so any cold / wet sensative type things - I've heard the radiators are also prond to failure if left wet?
Many thanks in anticipation.
tom
I know this has been done to death but I think my situation hasn't quite been covered in other threads.
I've owned an 05MY elise 111R with a/c since last March. Always left it outside - rain or shine (and snow now for that matter) with no previous problems. My heater fan has just packed in.
I assume this is water ingress and the resistor pack failing that I read so much about on forums before I bought my car.
However, there are two reasons that lead me to doubt this diagnosis:
(1) The heater fan has packed in entirely, i.e. it doesn't come on at all on any settings (- yes, it was a very cold journey to work this morning!!) .I thought that the resistor pack failure still allowed you to turn it on and off but meant there was no difference between some of the settings? OR does it affect different cars in different ways?
(2) It's been dry for the past two days or so, yet this morning is the first time the fan hasn't worked (I use my car everyday - it worked fine yesterday). I thought the reason it failed was due to the resistor pack being in a kind of sealed tub which fills up with water and eventually submerges the resistor pack shorting it out? OR can it just go at a seemingly random time?
I've heard the A/C makes it a bit of a bugger to do DIY so I'll probably be pulling my trousers down and taking to a dealer / specialist. To be honest, I knew it was coming at some point, given that it lives outside and I'd kind of bugeted for having to get it done when I bought it!! I just wanted to make sure it was this before I shell out.
Therefore, what do people think? and is there anything else that it could be?
On the subject of shelling out - any suggestions on where to get it done. I live near Nottingham - Peter Smith is probably my closest dealer.
I understand there is a way that this can be avoided by using a different pack that fits higher? I've heard they sometimes also drill some holes to let the water flow out? - does this also need to be done as well as fitting the new pack?
Also, as a side question, whilst the clam is off doing this, is it worth me having any other work done that will perhaps save me money in the long run? As I said, it lives outside so any cold / wet sensative type things - I've heard the radiators are also prond to failure if left wet?
Many thanks in anticipation.
tom
I seem to be replying to corrosion problems today 
My S2 Exige had the same, and it failed on a not particularly wet day (I stored mine in the barn, but the previous owner had kept it outside).
The resistor pack sits underneath the fan, resting in whatever water gathers after running down, the revised part sits on top of the fan and therefore doesn't suffer the same problems so if you make sure you get the new part, you won't have any more problems.
I got braided hoses fitted when I had the clam off for this, as it's almost impossible to do with the clam on, not sure about the radiator as I never saw a problem, though I did have the clam bolts replaced with galvanised ones and copper greased as they were corroding quite a bit.
My S2 Exige had the same, and it failed on a not particularly wet day (I stored mine in the barn, but the previous owner had kept it outside).
The resistor pack sits underneath the fan, resting in whatever water gathers after running down, the revised part sits on top of the fan and therefore doesn't suffer the same problems so if you make sure you get the new part, you won't have any more problems.
I got braided hoses fitted when I had the clam off for this, as it's almost impossible to do with the clam on, not sure about the radiator as I never saw a problem, though I did have the clam bolts replaced with galvanised ones and copper greased as they were corroding quite a bit.
I would be pretty certain it is the resistor pack. My failure was just the same as yours. Unfortunately with pre '06 cars it is not "if" it is "when". Having done the job, it is a size 10 son-of-a-b
h. With A/C, i wouldnt touch it with a barge pole.
The new modified resistor pack sits in the fan box out of the water so should not fail again.
While the clam is off, replace the OEM radiator with a racing unit with aluminium ends (wish I had), correctly route the ariels (both analog and digital) it improves the reception and I placed my GPS receiver is a decent position. I would also install HID headlights and cable these up nicely. If you aux driving lights are showing their age then also replace them while the clam is off. You can also put a nice towing mount in the front and get rid of that horrid rusty thing.
h. With A/C, i wouldnt touch it with a barge pole.The new modified resistor pack sits in the fan box out of the water so should not fail again.
While the clam is off, replace the OEM radiator with a racing unit with aluminium ends (wish I had), correctly route the ariels (both analog and digital) it improves the reception and I placed my GPS receiver is a decent position. I would also install HID headlights and cable these up nicely. If you aux driving lights are showing their age then also replace them while the clam is off. You can also put a nice towing mount in the front and get rid of that horrid rusty thing.
Gooby said:
I would be pretty certain it is the resistor pack. My failure was just the same as yours. Unfortunately with pre '06 cars it is not "if" it is "when". Having done the job, it is a size 10 son-of-a-bh. With A/C, i wouldnt touch it with a barge pole.
The new modified resistor pack sits in the fan box out of the water so should not fail again.
While the clam is off, replace the OEM radiator with a racing unit with aluminium ends (wish I had), correctly route the ariels (both analog and digital) it improves the reception and I placed my GPS receiver is a decent position. I would also install HID headlights and cable these up nicely. If you aux driving lights are showing their age then also replace them while the clam is off. You can also put a nice towing mount in the front and get rid of that horrid rusty thing.
This is my summer project, having also fallen foul of a knackered heater. h. With A/C, i wouldnt touch it with a barge pole.The new modified resistor pack sits in the fan box out of the water so should not fail again.
While the clam is off, replace the OEM radiator with a racing unit with aluminium ends (wish I had), correctly route the ariels (both analog and digital) it improves the reception and I placed my GPS receiver is a decent position. I would also install HID headlights and cable these up nicely. If you aux driving lights are showing their age then also replace them while the clam is off. You can also put a nice towing mount in the front and get rid of that horrid rusty thing.
Seeing as you went from everything to nothing at all in one go it might be worth checking the fuses, other than that I'd also vote for it being the resistor pack. There are four wires, 1 for each speed which can all fail individually and 1 main power connection, if the latter fails before the others then you'll have no fan at all. Like one other poster on here I found it a complete p in the a to change and that was without AC, based on that I'd recommend that either a specialist or dealer does the job for you.
Edited by CardShark on Thursday 21st January 21:47
Thanks for all your help.
I'm pretty confident it'll be the resistor pack.
Seems to be a lot of people on this forum and on MLOC with the same trouble. Not the best time of the year for one's heater to pack in!!
Going to take to a specialist to sort it - will get all the other suggested mods done at the same time. This is going to be one expensive visit!!
Thanks again
tom
I'm pretty confident it'll be the resistor pack.
Seems to be a lot of people on this forum and on MLOC with the same trouble. Not the best time of the year for one's heater to pack in!!
Going to take to a specialist to sort it - will get all the other suggested mods done at the same time. This is going to be one expensive visit!!
Thanks again
tom
We're probably about to stip the heater elements \ controls etc out of a brand new Elise R that's getting converted to a race car. We're probably a little out of your way but if the A14 near Huntingdon is OK location wise then we can probably help to try and keep the cost down. We can collect cars if required but there is a mileage charge.
Drop me a note to info@track-club.com if it's of interest.
Stephen
Drop me a note to info@track-club.com if it's of interest.
Stephen
tstendall said:
Thanks for all your help.
I'm pretty confident it'll be the resistor pack.
Seems to be a lot of people on this forum and on MLOC with the same trouble. Not the best time of the year for one's heater to pack in!!
Going to take to a specialist to sort it - will get all the other suggested mods done at the same time. This is going to be one expensive visit!!
Thanks again
tom
I'd had the same thing happen on my 06 registered but pre 06 model outside of warranty. I'd had a few electrical problems previously and they'd already extended the warranty by 6 months because of this, but I complained to Customer Services anyway due to it being a design fault and the car having only covered 3000 miles. They ended up supplying the part and we split the labour costs, cost to me was under £200 in the end. So maybe worth contacting them, especially if you car has had other issues in the past. The worst they can say is no!!I'm pretty confident it'll be the resistor pack.
Seems to be a lot of people on this forum and on MLOC with the same trouble. Not the best time of the year for one's heater to pack in!!
Going to take to a specialist to sort it - will get all the other suggested mods done at the same time. This is going to be one expensive visit!!
Thanks again
tom
I did one of these today on an Cup 240. The modified resistor pack from Lotus is ridiculously expensive compared to the original one do I fitted a new original one but relocated it, blanked off the original hole and modified the wiring to suit.
Total cost of the job to the customer was £295.
HTH
Dan
Total cost of the job to the customer was £295.
HTH
Dan
Thanks everyone for the replies - there is a load of stuff I wouldn't have thought to do. Hopefully this should prevent some big bills in the future. Though it is turning out to be majorly expensive now!
I've got it booked in to Sports Car Services to have it sorted. The full list of stuff that I'm getting done whilst the clam is off (for those looking at this thread later on and wanting an idea of what to get done):
New resistor pack
Drilling holes to let water flow out
Splash guard (part of new resistor pack)
New heater fan actuator
Braided brake hoses
Stainless steel towing mount and tow eye
HID dipped headlight kit
New Aluminum radiator
Thanks again
tom
I've got it booked in to Sports Car Services to have it sorted. The full list of stuff that I'm getting done whilst the clam is off (for those looking at this thread later on and wanting an idea of what to get done):
New resistor pack
Drilling holes to let water flow out
Splash guard (part of new resistor pack)
New heater fan actuator
Braided brake hoses
Stainless steel towing mount and tow eye
HID dipped headlight kit
New Aluminum radiator
Thanks again
tom
Don't forget to inspect your fan or fan's depending on if you have a.c or not.!.
Very fool hardy to forget INSPECTING them!.
Last 5 resistor kit's i have fitted, all of the car's had radiator fan bearing's that sounded like chain saw's when activated.
Definately not in keeping with the car at all.
Re: the Aluminium radiator.. Pro Alloy.!!!..
http://www.proalloy.co.uk/cgi-bin/sitewise.pl?act=... You won't regret it>!
Very fool hardy to forget INSPECTING them!.
Last 5 resistor kit's i have fitted, all of the car's had radiator fan bearing's that sounded like chain saw's when activated.
Definately not in keeping with the car at all.
Re: the Aluminium radiator.. Pro Alloy.!!!..
http://www.proalloy.co.uk/cgi-bin/sitewise.pl?act=... You won't regret it>!
Edited by Eat it up on Tuesday 26th January 23:59
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